The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-12-14
His Views on CleveIand's Extraor-
dinary Message-Repeal the To-
bacco Tax but Let That on
Whiskey Remain.

The Paris correspondent of the New York
Tribune cables report to that paper. giving
the views of Mr. Blaine on the Presidents
message.
Mr. Blaine said TO the Tribune representa-
tive
have been reading an abstract of the
Presidents message and have been especial
~ interested in the comments Of the London
papers Those papers all assume to declare
the message is free trade manifesto, and
evidently are anticipating am enlarged mar
kef for english fabrics in the United States
as consequence of the Presidents racom-
mendations Perhaps that fact stamped the
character Of the message more clearly than
any words of mine can
You don't mean actual free trade without
duty? queried the reporter
4" No, replied Blaine. Nor do the Lon
don papers mean that. They simply mean
that the President has recommended what in
the United States is known a revenue tariff,
rejecting the protective feature as an object
and not even permitting protection 10 result
freely as an incident to revenue duties
f" do not know that clearly comprehend
thar last point said the reporter.
- | mean, said Mr. Blaine that for the
first time in the history OF the United States
the President recommends retaining the in
ternal tax in order that the tariff may be
forced down even below the fair revenue
standard. He recommends that the TAX ON
tobacco be retained, and thus that many mil
lions annually shall be levied on a domestic
product which would far better come from a
tariff ON foreign fabrics"
Sc favor the repeal of the tobacco tax
said Mr. Blaine and would urge thar il
be dome ut once even before the Christmas
holidays. II would, in the first place. bring
great relief 10 growers of tobacco all over the
country and would materially lessen the
price of the article to consumers Tobacco
to millions of men is necessity. The Pres
ident calls it luxury, but il is a luxury in
no other sense than tea and coffee arr luxu-
ries. The only excuse for snch a tax is the
actual necessity under which the govern
ment found itself during the war and the
years Immediately following. Toietaiu the
tax now in order TO destroy the protection
which would incidentally flow from raising
the same amount of money on foreign i'm
ports Is certainly most extraordinary poll
6 iuF oar government"
~wonid you advise the repeal ut the
whsSkey tax also, Mr.. Blaine?'
No would not. Other considerations
DIAN lii,,se OF financial administration are To
Dc taken in account with regard 10 wfiSkey
Tkcie is a moral side 10 IT, 10 cheaper the
lriss 81 whiskty is To- increase the cnt.snnp-
t,oii enormously. There would BE- no sense
in nrgiug the reform wrought by high H.
sou~,. ia other States If the National Govern
meitt neutraiizes the good effect by making
whskey within the reach Of every one at 20
ceuis gallon Whiskey would be every
where distilled if the surveillance of the gov
ernnent were withdrawn by the remission
of the tax, and Illicit sales could not then be
prevented even by policy as rigorous and
searching as that with which Russia pnrsues
the Nihilist. 1t would destroy high license
at once in all the States. Whiskey has done
a vast deal of harm in the United States. |
! would try TO make it TO do some good. |
would use the tax 10 fortify our cities on the
seaboard. In view of the powerful letter adj
dressed TO the Democratic party on the sub
iect Of fertilization by the late Samuel j.
Tilden ia 1855, am amazed that no atten-
ton has been paid to the subject by the
Democratic administration
Further, Mr. Blaine informed the Tribune
representative that he would maintain the
tax on whiskey 50 long as there was any
whiskey to tax, and when the National Gov
ernment would have no use for the money
would divide the tax among the Federal
Union with the specific object Of Tightening
the TAX on real estate. The houses and farms
OF the whole country pay too large a proper
ton of The total taxes. If ultimately relief
could be given in that direction it would in
my Judgment, be wise and beneficent
policy"